Jan 29, 2004

Jerry Macedo cruises past 60, leaving successful startups in his wake at Almaden pool

By Karl Laucher
Staff Writer

Jerry Macedo says he’s not very philosophical, but he took the plunge anyway: “Swimming is a mirror of life,” said. “If you work hard and do what you are supposed to, good things happen.” His life in 20 words, perhaps? On the occasion of his 60th birthday, a celebration joined by a throng of Almaden Swim and Racquet Club members at the club pool on Monday, Macedo, ASRC manager and head swim coach, passed on the opportunity to sermonize, but it was apparent that he felt that, indeed, good things have happened to him.

He was hired 15 days before the club opened on April 15, 1970. After nearly 33 years on deck and in the ASRC front office, Macedo has seen plenty of talent realized and plenty squandered. His favorite success story, by far, would be that of his son, Matt, former Central Coast Section champion at Leland High School (class of 1998) who went on to earn 20 All-American awards in a glorious collegiate career at Cal-Berkeley.

“It’s been fun having him swim here his whole life,” Jerry said. Matt, 23, now based in San Diego, was up for dad’s birthday events, sanctified by Matt’s solo workout in the ASRC’s 25-yard pool.

Matt’s swim fortunes were closely tethered to his dad’s deep connection with the sport and Jerry’s notable career in his own right. Jerry was a three-time All-American at Santa Clara High School (1959-61), and was the first high school swimmer to break one minute at the 400-yard distance, a record, he says, which is laughable today. He placed third in the 400 free at the Olympic Trials in 1960 (only top two swimmers in each event made the team), and took third in the 440 free at the national championships in 1961. He swam for USC, Foothill College and San Jose State.

The serendipitous connection with Matt’s career, other than his own guiding hand, was that Jerry’s coach at Foothill College, Nort Thorton, would become Matt’s coach at Cal-Berkeley. And Mike Bottom, Jerry’s prize athlete when he coached at the Santa Clara Swim Club (1969-70), also would become Matt’s sprint coach at Cal-Berkeley.

Jerry Macedo’s portfolio has a large list of his charges who worked hard, did the right things, and were richly rewarded. Among the notables are: Steve Smith, (Leland class of 1977) who went to Stanford (played water polo) and became an astronaut as a mission specialist and space walker; Scott Rodeo (Leland in the 80s) swam at Stanford, is a now doctor in New York City and head of medicine for USA swimming, and Diann Christianson swam at the Air Force Academy, flew in Desert Storm, and now flies for Southwest Airlines. Current swimmers from ASRC include John Humphrey at Duke, Dana Shaw at Fresno State and Katrina Hearn at University of San Diego.

Although he has much to feel proud of, Macedo admits that there have been some who have jumped ship along the way, and others who didn’t live up to their promise. “When you’re good and could be great, and you just piss it away, it’s frustrating, very frustrating,” Macedo noted.

Nevertheless, at age 60 and still working hard and doing the right thing, Macedo had two most ardent admirers at his pool-side birthday party. Said his wife of 36 years, Peggy, administrator/teacher at Castillero Middle School: “He has touched so many lives over the years, to see it acknowledged is a delight.” Added Matt: “He seems to always put people at this club and around this community first, so it’s nice to see they appreciate that. It’s kind of like a ‘Jer Appreciation Day.’ He’s been a great role model for me.”